Dancing figure toy



S. M. MOORE DANCING FIGURE TOY 'April 26,1927. 1,625,955

Filed Dec.A 24, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 I 5'* l AMI/E1. M. mao/f5 W attentati vApril 26 1927.

1,625,955 s. M. MOORE K DANCING FIGURE TOY Filed Deo. 24, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 @ZM I /Q/, l

f 4 61mg Patented Apr. 26, l927.

UNITED srarss libtS l@ Alf-EN 'll` SAM'UEL M. MOORE, 0F SUMNEB., ILLKNO'IS, .FLSSIGNOR OF OYE-SIXTE T0 .VVLLIAM-L ,IVIOOREI OF SUMNER, ILLNOIS, AND ONE-S3XTH T@ ROSIE Y/TELTGN, @NE-SIXTH TO MARY BLANCHIEVIOORE, ONE-SXT`I T() BONNIE .AND CNE-SIXTH T0 BERT SAGERS, ALL (2P-F LAWRENCEVILLE, ILLliOS. i

DANCENG FGUBE TOY.

Application filed December 24x', 1952-5. fzlerial No. 77,598.

This invention relates to improvements intoys and has :particular reference to -What 4is commonly termed a figure toy.

An important object of the `invention is to provide a toy having- `means of operation whereby fthe structure `may be actuated in ythefsimulation of a dancingtigure.

A :further object of the invention is the `provision `of "a toy kof the above character which maybe "very easilyfactuated and designed to assume amusing positions.

A :still further object rof the invention `is ethe `provision `of a `toy structure of a csim-ple and durable nature having positive operatingvmeans adapted to properly actuate fthe 'figure lin life like-movement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision-cfa toy of the above char- -acterwhich will be ofsimple'design so as to "be `manufacturedi at a `comparatively low cost.

'Other objects andadvantag'es of-theinvention will beoomefapparent vas the descri ption progresses.

In the accompanying drawings 1 form ing' a -partoflthis lspecification and in Vwhich likeV reference characters are employed to designate corresponding `parts 4throughout the same: A f

Figure l is a rear elevation `ofla toy constructed yin'accordance VWith my invention a. portion of the structure beingrhroken away to sho-Wl the `interior construction. and

Figure 2 isla verticalsectional view taken `@n.therline 2-2 of'Figu-re l.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration-is shown thepreferred embodiment of `my invention. the nun'ieral 5` generally indicates support casingrivhich `oit-cylindrical formation-z and preferably constructed of sheet metal or the like. The -loiverextremityof this casing' rests upon :.a base `plate 6 Which n'iay-be ofrectaugular formation and constructed of Wood or siniri-lar. material. Theupper side of the base plate 6 isprovided with -acircular `groove .7 fin which the lower; --edjre of the casing :isii1mly seated, so as to retain the casi ing iny a-secure vertical position. The upper-endet the casino is closed by means of a circular top plate 8 arranged 'so as l:to be snugly litted intheV upperendeof the easing `and secured firmly thereon by fan outer retaining` band 9, riveted or otherwise secured to the upper edge of thecasingr and top plate S. This top plate is providedat its center with an opening l0, the purpose of which will become apparent as the description progresses.

Mounted in the casing and disposed in parallel spaced positions therein are a pair of frame beams l1 preferably of rectangular cross section lhaving their vupper and lower extremities projecting in suitable recesses formed in the base plate 6 `and top plate 8 so as to firmly retain `the-.same in position` These beams are arranged to support suitable actuating` mechanism, rotatably mounted between the frame beams.

This mechanism embodies an actuating disk l2 secured on the central portion of a transverse shaft 13. This shaft is larranged to extend between ythe frame beams `llfat approximately the center thereof, the

intermediate portion of the shaft beingpreterably square in cross section While the end extensions are cylindrical for engage- `ment with suitableopenines formed in the frame beams to permit rotary movementof the shaft. The disk 12 is firmly secured on the center of the shaft` and is rotatable in a vertical plane. Secured upon fthe peripheral edge of the disk l2 in diametrically opposed positions are a pair of semicircular Cam plates lil. ofsomeivhat wider Constructionthanthe disk l2 `and provided with arcuate pockets therein. rFliese pockets are arranged to conform to the curvature of the disk sothat the cam plates 14C may be firmly positioned upon the periphery Wheel 16 secured to the shaft and adapted to rotate therewith and arranged in vertical alignment with a comparatively large companion wheel 17 secured upon an auxiliary shaft 18 rotatably mounted adjacent the lower ends of the frame beams. r)his auxiliary shaft is provided on one end with a longitudinal extension 19 adapted to project through a suitable slot 20 formed in the casing and provided on its end with a non-circular shank 21. Thus, it is apparent, that a conventional type of crank may be detachably mounted on the shank 21 of the shaft 18 for rotation of this member. Although structure is disclosed for the manual operation of the mechanism, it is not intended to restrict the device to this particular operation, as it is contemplated to permit connection of mechanical or electrical operating means.

Firmly mounted on the opposite reduced end of the shaft 18 is an auxiliary wheel Q2 arranged in complementaryT relation with a similar wheel 23 which is carried on an extension shaft of a conventional type of music box 2li. With reference to the drawings, it will be noted that the wheels are provided with peripheral .grooves so that a drive belt Q5 may be trained over the complementary wheels 16 and 17 for simultaneous rotary movement of these members and a second belt 26 trained over the pulleys 22 and 23 for operation of the music box 2li. It is thus seen by imparting rotary movement to the extension 19 of the lower shaft 18, the cam member secured upon the upper shaft 13 is rotated, and at the same time, the music box 24 is ope-rated.

In order that a suitable figure may be actuated by the foregoing operating mechanism, a longitudinal rod 27 is slidably mounted through the opening' 10 formed in the top plate, ejuided in vertical movement by a `duide casing Q8. This `@guide casing' is provided with a flange 29 to permit attachment to the lower side of the top plate and provided with a central opening at its lower closed end through which the rod 27 projects. From this arrangement, it is apparent that the rod 27 will be, by force of gravity, positioned in contact with the cani member and movement of this member will force the rod 27 in reciprocating movement. In order to prevent displacement of the rod 27 during the movement thereof, a collar 30 secured to the intermediate portion thereof, this collar being readily movable in the casing 28 so as to limit the vertical movement of the rod.

Securely fastened on the upper extremity of the rod 27 is a figure, in the present instance, in the form of a human body, cmbodyinga trunk 31, arms 82, and legs 33. The lower portion of the body 31 is provided With a bore adapted to receive therein the upper portion of the rod 27 for securely fastening the body in position thereof. The arms 31 are pivotally connected with the body by means of pivot pins -i-zlf and are rendered of a flexible nature by an intern'iediate pivotal connection :in in imitation of an' elbow joint. The legs Il?, are of similar construction beine' secured to thc body in a pivotal manner and pivotally jointed at the knees to permit. lflexible movement thereof.

In operation, when the lower shaft '1S is rotated b v means of a hand crank or other operating mechanism,` the cam member ein bodyingr the disk 12 and cam plates 14 will be rapidly rotated causing vertical reciprocating movement of the rod 9.7 and prodncing; a jigger movement of the iigure. The particular construction of the legs will cause the lower extremities thereof to contact with the top plate 8 so that a dancing effect is produced. The flexible construction of the arms 32 `will cause these members to swingr in a loose fashion so that the entire figure structure presents a loosely actuated jigging or dancin g form. Furthermore, during the dancingV movement of the gure, the apparatus will operate the music box 24 so as to produce music during the dancing;` movement of the toy.

It is readily apparent, from the forefroing description and the drawings, that highly simplified and durable figure structure has been devised, constructed with a view of producing an amusing device at a lower manufacturing cost.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same. and that various modifications may be affected, without departingr from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the snbioined claims.

Having thus described my invention, .l claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a` casing. a cam member com prisingr a circular disk and eccentric projections mounted on the disk secured upon a rotatable transverse shaft. means for rotatahly operatinrr the shaft and cam member. a rod movably mounted in the upper portion of the casing arranged to contact with the cam member and reciprocated thereby. and a figure having fiexible limb members pivotally secured thereto mounted on the upper en d of the rod.

2. A toy of the character described coinprisinn a. casinalr includingr a base and a top plate. the top plate having an opening', a supporting; frame mounted in the casing. a transverse shaft rotatably mounted in the central portion of the frame. a transverse shaft mounted adjacent the lower portion of the frame, a cam member on the upper shaft including a pair of oppositely disposed eccentric members, complementary drive wheels secured upon the upper and lower shafts connected by a belt, a music box having a laterally extendingshaft mounted in the casing, a second drive Wheel moui'lted on the lower shaft and arranged to connect with a Wheel on the music box shaft, means for rotatably operating the shafts, a vertically movable rod extending through the top plate of thevcasing', guide means associated with the rod to limit the reciprocating movement thereof, the lower end of the rod being arranged in Contact with the cam and reciprocated thereby, and a figure in the form of a human body mounted on the upper end of the rod having flexibly connected arms and legs to simulate dancing movement.

3. In a. dancing figure toy comprising a using, ligure operating mechanism including a. circular disk secured in vert-ical position on a transverse rotary shaft, eccentric members detachably engageable with the disk, means -for rotatably operating the said shaft, a rod mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in the upper portion of the casing, and a figure secured to the upper end of the rod having flexible limb members pivotally secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAMUEL M. MOORE. 

